Dr Sonica Krishan is Ayurveda & Natural Lifestyle consultant, freelance health writer (Alternative healing), Books author, Editor and Health Blogger. She has authored health and natural wellness promoting books like Herbal Healers, Home Remedies, Healing through Ayurveda – Tips on Dosha understanding and Self care etc. CureJoy team spoken to Dr Sonica Krishan about Ayurveda in general and Ayurvedic tips for living a balanced and healthy life
1. Could you start by telling our readers about yourself?
I am an author and speaker in the areas of healthy and joyous living through Ayurveda, meditation, yoga and other contemplative practices. I have authored Natural health care Books Viz. Herbal Healers, Home Remedies and Healing through Ayurveda, Healing through Ayurveda Herbs in your kitchen garden along with collaborating with other Authors globally as Contributing Author for the book – The 7 Joys of life. My books are available at Amazon. I am also presently Editor for Ayurveda section with All Things Healing, USA, along with writing for National & International publications and websites including a network of Ayurveda sites which highlights Deepak Chopra’s Chopra Centre products. I have been faculty for online teaching with San Diego College of Ayurveda, USA, and am currently into organizing Holistic Health workshops and presentations incorporating the Natural Lifestyle healing practices of Ayurveda, Meditation and Yoga.
2. What led you to Ayurveda?
Right from the childhood days I was passionate about becoming a doctor and wanted to heal and nurture people. Later, when I grew up, I compared Allopathy, Ayurveda and other systems of medicine and found that Ayurveda was the best medicine system because of the rare side-effects and the focus on healing the root cause of disease. It was only during my studies that I started realizing the immense power of Ayurveda and developed a deep interest in the subject. Over the next few years I realized Ayurveda is my deepest passion and hence I have sustained my interest in Ayurveda.
3. How would you describe the ancient Ayurveda practice?
The importance of Ayurveda can be acknowledged by the mere fact that a whole Veda has been dedicated to it. ‘Ayurveda’ is a combination of two words, where ‘Ayush’ denotes life and ‘Veda’ depicts the science. Thus Ayurveda is ‘The science of life’ which provides us with a life full of health, vigor and vitality.
I would say that the ancient Ayurveda practice actually redeems a holistic approach towards well-being. Also, as this therapy deals with preparations only from herbs and natural resources, it may be regarded as a non-detrimental mode of treatment with few or no side effects. Ayurveda, being a therapeutic discipline, has full potential to help a patient overcome the ailment from which he or she is suffering exclusively using natural means of healing. The prime focus of Ayurveda is on the preventive aspect and therefore curing of the disease in Ayurveda is considered as secondary to harbouring of natural wellness.
4. How is Ayurveda different from modern medicine?
I would focus on three basic points which distinguishes Ayurveda from the modern age medicine. .
• First, In Ayurveda the very first principle in treating a disease is to do away with the basic cause of the disease, and also no new ailment should emerge as a consequence. A disease is eradicated from its roots.
• Secondly, Ayurveda insists that medicine be centered at the patient, rather on the disease. The mind, body and soul are considered as a tripod and the entire word is sustained by their combination.
• Thirdly, as Ayurveda deals with the preparations only from herbs and natural resources, it is basically harmless therapy with least or no side effects. And precisely, this is the demand of our times.
5. What is a Dosha and what are the three principles used in Ayurveda?
Dosha is the Sanskrit term for “that what vitiates.” Thus, doshas are the humors that imminently make up the body and yet they are very easy to be vitiated. Ayurveda believes that as and when the three doshas are in the state of natural equilibrium, these tend to sustain natural wellbeing. And on the contrary, when the doshas fall out of balance, then these are reason enough to make the body ailing. Ayurveda doshas or the three principles (body humors) are Vata or the air, Pitta or the fire and Kapha or the phlegm. The three doshas are highly significant and essential for our natural health and well-being, are thoroughly described in Ayurveda science of Dosha Healing
6. Does one have to adopt a complete ayurvedic lifestyle in order to become healthier, or is it possible to incorporate a few methods into our daily routine?
I would say that although Ayurveda largely counsels about adapting the right everyday lifestyle, with the aim of staying clear of lifestyle ailments, as well as enjoying the fruit of natural wellbeing and longevity; yet even if we are able to include the basic methods, it would be much healing. I would vouch for taking into conscious consideration the balanced diet, daily exercise and proper rest in everyday living, which are also considered as the three pillars which support the ‘building’ of our health.
7. So many Americans lead an incredibly stressful life. Are there any herbs you would recommend to combat stress?
There are some Ayurveda herbs that are expressed more rightly as ‘Brain tonics’. These not only help to combat stress, but can also prove quite beneficial to sharpen intellect and increase the mental powers. Ayurveda herbs like Brahmi (Centella asiatica), Shankpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) are great support for combating stress.
8. What are your top 10 tips for living a balanced and healthy life?
1. Rise and Shine
Waking up early saves us from a number of maladies like lethargy, depression and diminished digestion. Therefore, make it a point to wake up early in the morning, actually with the first morning sun rays. The juvenile ultraviolet rays emitted during dawn tend to work as mind stimulators and mood dilators!
2. Exercise and Keep Yourself Charged
Any form of daily exercise or brisk walks in the fresh air is highly important for the fitness of both your body as well as mind. Not only this, Yoga poses like Shavasana and Yoga Nidra and deep breathing techniques called Pranayama are going to help you greatly to relieve the depressive mental state, especially the Anulom – Vilom ( Alternate breathing) and Bhramari Pranayamas.
3. Eat Right
What to eat and when to eat are some of everyday eating habits that you need to keep in mind so as to enjoy the fruit of Natural health lifelong. While taking food, you need to be mentally in the state of happiness and tranquillity. Physical hygiene and mental (spiritual) purity enhance the nourishing property of the meal. Ayurveda advocates taking of the meal to be analogous to performing a sacred act. Therefore enchanting of mantras and offering of prayers before commencing eating the meal is considered auspicious as well as mandatory. The everyday food that is warm, unctuous, and light is believed to be well digested and nourishing for the body as well as mind. This kind of food tends to invigorate your gastric fire—which is essential in proper digestion of the meal—is nicely digested and assimilated within the body, and helps to settle down the gas formation in the abdomen. Not to forget drinking of warm water often, which tend to keep your system working,
4. Detoxify Occasionally
Ayurveda detoxification needs to be pursued occasionally, especially during seasonal transition. There is a noticeable gain in vigor and vitality, improved skin conditions, regular bowel movements, and better digestion physically and mental gains include increased levels of clarity and a feeling of cheerfulness.
5. Meditate Daily for Inner Peace and Balance
Meditation needs to be a part and parcel of your everyday living. This may be brought about by many wonderful means of self-discipline, yet is has proved adherently comforting and enlightening so as to follow what ancient wisdom has preached.
6. Connect with Nature often
Do not miss on your bond with Nature. Connection with all five natural elements – Ether, air, sun, water and earth is actually needed. This needs to be understood that like other forms of nature, we too are made from the same five basic natural elements. So we are one hundred percent natural. And thus it feels good as and when we are in proximity to the five natural elements.
7. Yoga and Pranayama – A Necessity for keeping Fit
Yoga poses and deep-breathing techniques of Pranayama are virtual gain for all those who find themselves growing conscious about the progressing years. Yoga aids in slowing down the process of aging in a number of ways. When practiced regularly, body cell degeneration decreases considerably and this in turn imparts vitality and vigor to mind, body and soul. Practicing deep breathing techniques provide you with inner peace, helps reduce debility and limitations and even slows down the aging process.
8. Everyday Massage
Massage of soles of the feet with some warming oil like Sesame seed oil will benefit. Also, you need to use some cooling ( not warm in property) oil for everyday massage of your scalp, although these oils can be slightly warmed before massage. Elaadi tailam or coconut oil are good.
9. Sound Sleep is Must
Sound sleep for seven to eight hours is the best form of rest. This helps the body and mind relax completely and also helps regain the daily loss of energy. This is also a necessary ingredient for retaining – as well as reviving – natural wellness, vigor and vitality.
10. Recreation is Needed
Keeping mentally occupied during the day in any creative activity that makes you feel happy and positive is mandatory. At the same time, do not by any means succumb to the world of television. Rather, you need to keep your mind as much positively stimulated as possible.